Ergonomic, single hand, folding painter's tool

Abstract

An easy to hold, single hand operated, foldable, multi-purpose painter's tool for use in performing a variety of tasks, such as scraping, spreading, cleaning, cutting, and can opening, encountered during painting. The tool includes an elongate handle having first and second side walls defining first and second edges and first and second ends, and a channel formed between the side walls and extending through the first edge. An elongate blade is secured by a pivot at a first end to the first end of the handle, permitting the blade to pivot between a folded position within the channel, and an extended position outside of the channel. The blade itself defines first and second side surfaces, first and second longitudinal edges and an orthogonal edge at a second end of the blade. A rounded notch is formed in each of the side walls of the handle at the first edge, and a finger actuation knob is detachably secured to one of the side surfaces adjacent to the first longitudinal edge, such that when the blade is in the folded position, the finger actuation knob is disposed within one of the rounded notches. The knob can be secured to either side of the blade to accommodate both right and left handed users.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A painter's tool comprising: an elongate handle having first and second side walls defining first and second edges and first and second ends, and a channel formed between said side walls and extending through said first edge;   an elongate blade secured by a pivot at a first end thereof to the first end of the handle, whereby said blade is pivotable between a folded position within the channel, and an extended position outside of the channel, wherein said blade defines first and second side surfaces, first and second longitudinal edges and an orthogonal edge at a second end of the blade;   a rounded notch formed in each of said side walls at said first edge; and   a finger actuation knob secured to one of said side surfaces of the blade adjacent to said first longitudinal edge, whereby when said blade is in the folded position, the finger actuation knob is disposed within one of said rounded notches.   
     
     
       2. The painter's tool according to claim 1, wherein said finger actuation knob is detachably secured to said blade, such that the finger actuation knob is securable to both the first side and second side surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The painter's tool according to claim 1, wherein said finger actuation knob has a knurled outer surface. 
     
     
       4. The painter's tool according to claim 1, wherein said handle is generally tapered from said second end to said first end thereof. 
     
     
       5. The painter's tool according to claim 4, wherein said second handle edge includes a first curvilinear finger rest portion adjacent said first handle end. 
     
     
       6. The painter's tool according to claim 5, wherein said first handle edge includes a second curvilinear finger rest portion adjacent said first handle end and aligned with said first curvilinear finger rest portion. 
     
     
       7. The painter's tool according to claim 6, wherein said first and second curvilinear finger rest portions are concave in shape. 
     
     
       8. The painter's tool according to claim 7, wherein said first handle edge includes an arcuate gripping portion disposed between said rounded notch and said second handle end. 
     
     
       9. The painter's tool according to claim 8, wherein said arcuate gripping portion is concave in shape. 
     
     
       10. The painter's tool according to claim 6, wherein said second curvilinear finger rest portion is disposed between said rounded notch and said first handle end. 
     
     
       11. The painter's tool according to claim 1, further including a hammer cap secured to the second end of the handle. 
     
     
       12. The painter's tool according to claim 1, wherein said second longitudinal blade edge includes a convex portion intermediate the first and second ends thereof, and a first concave portion between the convex portion and the second blade end. 
     
     
       13. The painter's tool according to claim 12, wherein said second longitudinal blade edge includes a second concave portion between said convex portion and said first end of the blade. 
     
     
       14. The painter's tool according to claim 13, wherein said first longitudinal blade edge includes a third concave portion intermediate the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
       15. The painter's tool according to claim 14, wherein one of said blade side surfaces is beveled adjacent said second blade end and said second longitudinal edge such that a sharpened edge is defined along at least a portion of said orthogonal edge and said second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
       16. The painter's tool according to claim 15, wherein said beveling ends adjacent a vertex of the convex portion such that the sharpened edge ends adjacent the vertex. 
     
     
       17. The painter's tool according to claim 16, wherein said orthogonal edge extends generally perpendicular to said first longitudinal edge and is connected thereto by a first radiused portion so as to define a generally large radius corner. 
     
     
       18. The painter's tool according to claim 17, wherein said first concave portion of said second longitudinal blade edge includes a first portion extending from the convex portion and an enlarged, second portion connected to the orthogonal edge by a second radiused portion, said orthogonal edge being disposed at an acute angle relative to said enlarged, second concave portion such that said second radiused portion defines a small radius corner tip. 
     
     
       19. The painter's tool according to claim 18, wherein said second radiused portion is disposed generally at a level below the vertex of said convex portion when said blade is in the extended position. 
     
     
       20. The painter's tool according to claim 1, further including locking means for locking said blade in said extended position. 
     
     
       21. The painter's tool according to claim 20, further including lock release means for releasing the locking means. 
     
     
       22. A tool comprising: a handle having first and second side walls defining a first edge, and a channel formed between said side walls and extending through said first edge;   a blade pivotally secured to said handle, said blade being pivotable between a folded position within the channel, and an extended position outside of the channel, and said blade defining first and second side surfaces and a first longitudinal edge;   a notch formed in each of said first and second side walls at said first edge; and   an actuation knob detachably secured to said blade adjacent to said first longitudinal edge, and said actuation knob is selectively securable to both said first and second side surfaces.   
     
     
       23. The tool according to claim 22, wherein the notches are rounded. 
     
     
       24. The tool according to claim 20, wherein said finger actuation knob has a knurled outer surface. 
     
     
       25. A tool comprising: a handle having first and second side walls defining a first edge, and a channel formed between said side walls and extending through said first edge;   a blade pivotally secured to said handle, said blade being pivotable between a folded position within the channel, and an extended position outside of the channel;   a notch formed in each of said first and second side walls at said first edge; and   an actuation knob secured to said blade and receivable within one of said notches when said blade is in the folded position.   
     
     
       26. The tool according to claim 25, wherein said actuation knob is detachably secured to said blade.